PETERBOROUGH (ON) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | PETERBOROUGH, ON
  • COVID-19
    • Financial Support Programs
    • Business Resources for Recovery
    • Government Responses
    • Workplace Guidelines
    • Wellness Support
    • Vaccine Information
    • Rapid Screening Kits
  • What We Do
    • Influence
    • Profile
    • Knowledge
    • TeamPtbo
  • Find A Member
    • Online Directory
  • Membership
    • Member Discounts
    • Promoting Your Business
    • I'm Here Campaign
    • #lovelocalptbo campaign
    • Join Us
    • Solar Panel Installers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • 2022 Business Excellence Awards
    • 2022 Business Summit
    • Power Hour 2023
  • Advocacy
    • Voice of Business
  • Connect With Your Chamber
    • Join Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Your Chamber Team
    • Social Media
    • Business Resources
    • Feedback >
      • Accessibility
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • #lovelocalptbokawarthas sponsors
  • Canadian Digital Adoption Plan
  • 2022 Municipal Election
Picture
Picture

What's going on with Bill 148?

9/12/2018

 
Picture
We’ve mentioned it before and we’re saying it again, business likes certainty.  However, for a very long time certainty has been elusive for the business owner.

The Bill 148 legislation came into effect January 1, 2018.  Before hand there was concern.  Businesses had a very short time frame to institute some major changes.  There was no economic analysis done by
government to understand the impact of so many changes all at once.  Several independent groups , including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, issued analyses that predicted job losses of between 50 -100,000 over the next two years because of the reforms.

A survey of the Peterborough Chamber membership painted a wide array of impacts and reactions, including increased prices, decreased hours, and a lot more automation.  We also heard that businesses made the changes and well, got on with business.  As always there are different levels of impact.  The feeling from the economic analyses and those in business is that the true impact of the changes won’t be seen until one or two years after implementation.

With the change in government we've been asked what will happen with this legislation.  The short
answer is, it will remain in place. That said, one of Premier Ford’s campaign promises was to stop the second minimum wage increase, from $14 to $15, in the Bill 148 legislation. In order to do so, the legislation must be brought forward to Queen’s Park and opened to make the change.  In most cases, legislation is reviewed every five years or so, but now there is potentially an opportunity coming up to get in and make changes.

The Chamber’s number one concern with the Bill 148 legislation was the speed at which it came into effect and the depth and breadth of impact in the business community. We constantly speak about the piling on effect or cumulative burden.  Bill 148 introduced a significant amount of new rules, regulations and costs, on top of increased hydro rates, gas prices, and various federal regulations. Bill 148 was also intended to improve the economic prospects for the most vulnerable members of society, but it placed the burden almost squarely on the shoulders of the business community, as though we are an endless source of wealth. In addition to a longer implementation of Bill 148, the Chamber lobbied hard for income tax measures for the lowest income earners, and the completion and consideration of the Basic Income Guarantee study. This study, which included the City of Kawartha Lakes has now been cancelled, a missed opportunity for significant change in how we treat our most vulnerable.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, along with several other organizations  is calling for a full repeal of Bill 148. We are asking our members to provide us with some feedback as to how they are coping with the legislative changes, and the increased costs. What are some of the mitigation measures they’ve implemented, and what do they anticipate will be the long term impacts? We are also curious to know if there are specific areas that need to be changed or receive further consideration should the legislation be opened up.
Advocacy Page
Take the Survey

Comments are closed.

    Author

    The Peterborough 
    Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. 

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2021 Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  ​All rights reserved.
175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
Home    |    Calendar    |   Site Map   |    Privacy    |    Accessibility
Join the Chamber
MemberClicks
  • COVID-19
    • Financial Support Programs
    • Business Resources for Recovery
    • Government Responses
    • Workplace Guidelines
    • Wellness Support
    • Vaccine Information
    • Rapid Screening Kits
  • What We Do
    • Influence
    • Profile
    • Knowledge
    • TeamPtbo
  • Find A Member
    • Online Directory
  • Membership
    • Member Discounts
    • Promoting Your Business
    • I'm Here Campaign
    • #lovelocalptbo campaign
    • Join Us
    • Solar Panel Installers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • 2022 Business Excellence Awards
    • 2022 Business Summit
    • Power Hour 2023
  • Advocacy
    • Voice of Business
  • Connect With Your Chamber
    • Join Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Your Chamber Team
    • Social Media
    • Business Resources
    • Feedback >
      • Accessibility
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • #lovelocalptbokawarthas sponsors
  • Canadian Digital Adoption Plan
  • 2022 Municipal Election